One thing that we frequently hear from readers, friends and family members is amazement that we’re able to travel as much as we do. It may seem like we’re always going somewhere…and usually we are. One way we’re able to travel so much is through strategic use of our very limited vacation time. Like most Americans, we have a limited 2-3 weeks (10-15 days) per year. That means we need to be really smart in how we use our time.

One way we’re able to make the most of our limited vacation time is through weekend getaways. These two- to four-day breaks give us the chance to see the “best of” a destination in a short amount of time. The articles in our weekend getaway section are the best of these experiences. This is how we make the most out of a limited amount of vacation time and still see the world.

The sweet sounds of a jazz trombone, the first crunchy bite of a shrimp po’boy, the sight of a wrought-iron balcony decked out with Mardi Gras beads. All this and more is what makes New Orleans, Louisiana, like nowhere else.

A little bit European and a little bit Canadian, Montreal is a city that loves good food, good art, and getting outside at every opportunity, no matter the weather. In the spirit of its French settlers, Montreal teems with joie de vivre.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has the feeling of a small town wrapped in a big city. Once known for its industries like tobacco and textiles, Winston-Salem has broadened its appeal as a center of art, culture, and food while still paying homage to its past.

When we lived in Manhattan, friends would talk about how cute Saratoga Springs was. But with little time or money to get away from the grind, the city remained one of those places that we hoped to get to “one day.” And then it finally happened, and we were blown away.

One of our very favorite places on the East Coast, the beautiful city of Annapolis often gets overlooked in favor of its larger neighbors like Baltimore or Washington, DC. But Annapolis is a waterfront retreat, a college town, and a picture-perfect capital city full of fun things to do.